Cool as ice - Downriver Council for the Arts

DOWNRIVER LIFE
Section E
Sunday, February 24, 2013
www.TheNewsHerald.com
Leading ladies
Women of Wyandotte awards
honor community heroes
By Andrea Blum
ebrated enough.”
Women of Wyandotte’s mission
is to aid all women with available
ourteen of Wyandotte’s
resources to excel in life toward
most fabulous females had higher achievement.
their moment in the spotWhile 14 honorees might
light during the third
seem excessive, Sutherby-Fricke
annual Women of
said that’s just a fraction of the
Wyandotte Awards.
women who qualify for the award
The black-tie gala, held Feb.
through their hard work.
16 at the Downriver Italian“If you really look into what
American Hall, honored 14
they do and who they touch,
Wyandotte women who have
these 14 women are a small numdevoted themselves to commuber compared to the number of
nity, education, family, health and people they affect,” she said. “If
spirituality.
you lined up all the community
Sheri Sutherby-Fricke, founder organizations and the commitand president of Women of
ment these women put forth
Wyandotte, said the foundation
— the Red Cross, the Salvation
sheds light on a small segment of Army, Gleaners Food Bank, WAG
women who devote their lives to
— the list goes on and on.”
others.
Women of Wyandotte and the
“They are all women who do
Wyandotte Jaycees co-hosted
so much,” she said. “I don’t think the event, which included dinthe lives of women have been cel- ner catered by Silver Shores
The News-Herald
F
An original painting of Lucille Ball, dubbed “The First Lady of
Wyandotte,” created by artist Cathy Wake was sold at a silent
auction during the gala.
Riverfront, an awards presentation, an art auction, entertainment and an afterglow at
Portofino.
Wyandotte Police Chief Dan
Grant acted as master of ceremonies.
In the spotlight this year
were Julie Abshire and Tammy
Trudelle, both nominated by
the Wyandotte Jaycees, and
Women of Wyandotte nominees
Roseann Gabrys, Eula Grooms,
Mary Karasinski-Haverington,
Kathleen Kane, Vicki Lucas,
Kaitlyn Maiani, Tammy Maiani,
Diane Paul, Carol Resto, Anne
Ronco, Lynn Steffensky and
Heather Thiede.
Each honoree received the
“Woman of the Year” title and
a string of pearls courtesy of
Milkins Jewelers.
Several politicians, including
U.S. Rep. John Dingell (D-12th
District), state Sen. Hoon-Yung
Hopgood (D-Taylor) and state
Rep. Paul Clemente (D-Lincoln
Park), gave proclamations to the
recipients.
Three special awards
named after historic women in
Wyandotte also were selected
from the nominees.
The Allen Award went to
Diane Paul, the Mrs. Bishop
Award went to Eula Grooms and
the VanAlstyne Award to Anne
Ronco.
In addition, The First Lady of
Wyandotte award was presented
to the family of the late Edna
Kreger, who died Jan. 5, just one
day after her husband, William
Kreger, a former Wyandotte
mayor and one of the city’s most
beloved residents. Her two sons
and three daughters accepted the
award.
WOW also partnered with
Wilson Middle School’s “The
Photos courtesy of DCA
Tammy Trudelle, executive director of the Downriver Council of the
Arts, shows off her “Woman of the Year” award during the annual
Women of Wyandotte Awards held Feb. 16 at the Downriver
Italian-American Hall. Trudelle was one of 14 women honored at
the gala for their devotion to community and family.
Girls Group” by honoring the
winner of the group’s anti-bullying contest. Kyla Ezell, a seventhgrader, won the contest through a
poster she submitted.
Ezell also received a tiara from
Milkins Jewelers.
Local artist Cathy Wake
donated her original painting of
Lucille Ball as a fundraising item
for the silent auction.
The organization gave the honorary title of “First Lady of Wyandotte” to the legendary actress
Lucille Ball because she lived
briefly in the city as a young child.
Tammy Trudelle, executive director of the Downriver
Council of the Arts, said the honorees were treated to a weeklong
series of events, beginning with a
fashion show on Feb. 8.
On the day of the awards, honorees were treated to hair and
makeup services and whisked to
the gala in a limousine.
“I’ve never been so pampered
in all my life,” she said.
In addition to heading the
DCA, Trudelle is a member of the
Wyandotte Business Assocation,
the American Association of
University Women, the Kiwanis
Club of Wyandotte and contributes to many community events
such as the recent “Paint the
Town Pink” for breast cancer
awareness.
Trudelle’s sister, Chrissy
Hunter, was her nominator.
“She does all these things
without ever looking for a pat
on the back,” Hunter said in her
nomination letter, adding that
her devotion to their bedridden
mother is another testament to
her sister’s character.
For Trudelle, the evening was a
great opportunity to get to know
a group of remarkable women,
which, she said, left her feeling
incredibly lucky.
“Very rarely am I ever speechless and stunned, but I was that
night,” she said. “It’s amazing to
know how the community feels
about us.
“It’s an experience I’ll never
forget and will always take forward with me for the rest of my
life.”
Contact Downriver Life Editor
Andrea Blum at 1-734246-0860 or
ablum@heritage.com. Follow her
on Facebook and @AndreaBlum1
on Twitter.
Cool as ice
Photos by E.L. Conley
Matt King of Wyandotte checks out one of the intricately carved ice
sculptures on display during Wyandotte’s annual Cool Blues Ice Fest held
Feb. 15 in the downtown area. The chilly celebration featured live ice-carving
demonstrations, entertainment, carriage rides and special sales at
Wyandotte businesses.
Jeffrey Lao of the Henry Ford
Community College Ice Carving Club
does a live carving demonstration for
a curious crowd of onlookers during
the annual Cool Blues Ice Fest in
Wyandotte.
Don’t put your life on our line.
This winter, prevent a senseless tragedy by steering clear of
train tracks. Not only is riding a snowmobile on a railroad’s
right of way illegal, you may be too focused on having a
good time to hear a train coming.
www.cn.ca
all aboard for safety